Notification of human avian flu cases in Zhejiang and Anhui received
************************************************************

    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification today (February 25) from the Ministry of Health confirming two human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces.

     A CHP spokesman said the patient in Zhejiang Province was a 9-year-old girl who developed fever and pneumonia on February 10. She is now in serious condition.

     The patient in Anhui Province was a 26-year-old woman who developed fever and pneumonia on February 11. She is also in serious condition.

     The CHP will maintain close liaison with the Ministry of Health to obtain more information on the cases.

Ends/Saturday, February 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 22:11

NNNN

---